I pretend RMP doesn’t exist, so I don’t know about that.

It’s the only way to go. Why should we waste our beautiful minds on randomslander.com?

My standard teaching/conference uniform is a skirt with a twin-set and a scarf (not always official matching twinsets, but always a knit top with a cardigan). Ideally with boots, usually opaque tights. Lots of sleeveless tops, which no one has ever said anything about.

I get a lot of clothing comments from colleagues and office staff, but I think that’s because the scarves (sometimes the skirts) are usually colorful patterns. I do not remember EVER seeing a student comment on my appearance on evals. I pretend RMP doesn’t exist, so I don’t know about that.

I recommend trying out scarves. By giving people something to focus on, I’m much more comfortable being looked at. They draw attention to the face and chest, but I don’t have to worry that people are staring at my boobs because there is a six-color complicated pattern they could easily be mesmerized by. Long hanging fabric also distracts from the very common too-tightness around my hips that always looks so obvious to me. They are also often strategic in case of disasters at professional meals. (I’m not particularly large-breasted, so I don’t know if that works in that context)

For those of you who find it difficult to find clothes that fit well, it may be well worthwhile to pay a tailor to alter one suit jacket to fit. I do think it’s important to interview in something that actually fits you, that is even, if possible, comfortable–the whole process is stressful enough without adding unnecessary physical discomfort into the situation.

Re: Job market dress and especially hotel interviews at AHA or MLA: I was recommended to wear pants because those hotel interviews are often rather strangely organized. The horror story I heard was about a woman in a knee-length skirt who was interviewed by a man who *sat on the floor* right in front of her. Geez.

Re: Boobs. I’ve got ‘em in spades and I’ve had far too many occasions when male students leered at me or stared as if mesmerized during class. (As if I couldn’t see them. Little bastards). But, in my experience, the ol’ suit jacket has one thing going for it: it distracts from the boobs. I never felt like anyone noticed my boobs when I was dressed in my interview suits.

I am disturbed, but not surprised, by New Kid’s comments about weight. As in other arenas, men have more latitude when it comes to weight.

It’s interesting how much of the conversation here seems to revolve around the fact that women can’t be perceived as too big or stand out too much (i.e. take up too much space mentally as well as physically.) I acknowledge that this is what I’m saying, too. Sigh.

Sorry to have been checked out of the conversation last night–big snow here (!) so I was shoveling out…

Rather, I meant that the most hostile critical receptions I have ever gotten have come from older feminists. And those women were not attractive–either in their affect or their appearance.

Like the hostile questioner (a big name in the field) who sat with her arms crossed, frowning, furiously taking notes, shaking her head, and who made the first comment of the panel, directed at me, which was, “I am not buying this.” And who I later discovered regularly tells her female advisees that she feels sorry for them because their scholarly lives “are over” if they decide to marry, much less have children.

I think that among academics, “feminism” can frequently apply more fully to one’s scholarship than to one’s behavior.

Also, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be fashionable. Everything “designer” I own was bought second hand or at a sample sale.